
6lass 
Book. 



COPYRICHT DEPOSIT 



A HISTORIC SKETCH 



Tie Parish Churcli of St. Micliael, 



\ 



IN THE 



PROVINCE OF SOUTH CAROLINA 



The Laying of the Corner Stone in 1752 to 1887, with 

A Roll of its Rectors and Assistant Ministers; 

Wardens, Vestrymen; the Original Pew 

Owners; Inscriptions from the 

Mural Tablets, &c. 



By GEORGE S. HOLMES. 



CHARLESTON, S. C: 
Walker, Evans & Cogswell Co., Printers, 

Nos. 3 and 5 Broad and 117 East Bay Streets 

1887. 



G^eoT-ge, S, H ol 



rn e.&. 



/ 

/ 

THE PARISH CHURCH 



OF 



ST. MICHAEL, 



IN 



CHARLES TOWN, 



IN 



The Province of South Carolina. 



Founded 1752, 



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4H7 



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COPYRIGHT 

BY 

GEORGE S. HOLMES, 1S87. 



<( ' 



ST. iMICHAELTi. 



The first notice we have of anything appertaining to St. 
Michael's is, in July, 1672,1 when John Culpepper, Surveyor- 
General, is directed to lay out a Town at Oyster Point, and 
the site now occupied by St. Michael's, seems to have been 
reserved for a church, though none was built on it until some 
years later, when the first St. Philip's was erected. This view 
of the early laying out of the church-yard is supported by the 
fact that December 29, 1886,^ some workmen while repair- 
ing the foundations found a coffin just under the first land- 
ing of the stairway to the south gallery and just inside of 
the southwest pilaster. This coffin was of red-cedar, and 
the lid was studded with brass tacks which formed the 
initials J. O. B. and the figures 1678. 

With the first St. Philip's we have nothing to do, so let 
us hurry on to June 14, 1751,3 when an Act of Assembly was 
passed, directing that " all that part of Charlestown situate 
and lying to the southward of the middle of Broad Street " 
is to " be known by the name of the Parish of St. Michael," 
and a church is to be erected " on or near the place where 
the old church of the parish of St. Philip Charlestown 
formerly stood," at a cost to the public of not more than 
^17,000 proclamation money, equal to about $55,000. 

The Hon, Charles Pinckney, Alexander Vander Bussen, 
Ed. Fenwick, Wm. Bull, Jr., Andrew Rutledge, Isaac 
Mazyck, Benj. Smith, Jordan Roche and James Irving, 
were appointed Commissioners to carry out the Act, and the 
South Carolina Gazette of Februrary 22, 1752, states that 
"the Commissioners for building the Church of St. Michael 
in this Town, having waited on His Excellency the Governor 
(Glen. Ed.) to desire that he would be pleased to lay the 
first Stone, on Monday last (February 17, 1752, Ed.), His 
Excellency, attended by several of His Majesty's Honorable 
Council, with the Commissioners and other Gentlemen, was 
pleased to proceed to the Spot and lay the same, accord- 

' Rivers, 130. -Charleston News and Courier, ]3ecemher 30, 1886, 
^Statutes VII, 79. 



4 Appendix to 1 'car Hook. 

ingly, and thereon a Sum of Money; a Stone was then laid 
by each of the Gentlemen, who attended His Excellency, 
followed by the loud Acclamations of a Numerous Concourse 
of people, that had assembled to see the Ceremony ; after 
which the Company proceeded to Mr. Gordon's, where a 
handsome Entertainment was provided by the Com- 
missioners. ^ 

Dinner over, His Majesty's health was drank, followed by 
a Discharge of the Cannon at Granville's Bastion ; then the 
Healths of all the Royal Family and other loyal Toasts ; and 
the Day was concluded with peculiar Pleasure and Satisfac- 
tion. This Church will be built on the Plan of one of Mr. 
Gibson's Designs; and 'tis tho't will exhibit a fine Piece of 
Architecture when compleated. The Steeple being designed 
much larger than that of St. Philip's, will have a fine set of 
Bells." 

In the above extract there is no mention of the where- 
abouts of " the first stone," but in an old memorandum 
book belonging to the church, it is stated that "this day 
the Gov'r laid the first stone at the So. East Corner of 
the Church." There is no date, but a little above is an 
item dated February 17, and just after one dated February 
29, 1752. While the repairs of the church, after the earth- 
quake, were going on, an effort was made to find this stone, 
and at the southeast corner of the main building, a block of 

^Gordon's was at the N. E. corner of Broad and Church Streets, and the 
Church still has the following bill: 

February 17, 1752. — The Coininisnor of the Church Bill. 

Dinner /20 : 0:0 

To Tody 1:10:0 

" Punch 5: 0:0 

" Beer 5:10:0 

" Wine 5: 5:0 

" Glass Broak 5:0 

" 8 Magnum bonos of Clarret 24 : 0:0 

61 : 10 : o 

JOHN GORDON. 
April ij, 1732. 

In a different hand is added, "The Coinm's agree tliat tlie Clerk pay this 
acct. 



The Parish Church of St. Michael. 5 

granite, i8 by 15 by 10^ inches, was found, but there was 
no inscription on it, nor record in it — to the intense disap. 
pointment of all present, of whom the writer was one. 

It will also be noticed that the name of the architect is 
given as " Gibson" — a name of which we can find no men- 
tion elsewhere ; but James Gibbs was the designer of St. 
Martins-in-the-Fields, London, and a legend tells us that 
our church is a copy of that building. A glance at the 
oictures of the two shows this to be an error, and one is 
puzzled to account for the story. If, however, they were 
planned by the same person, we can see how it arose. Add 
to this the similarity of Gibbs and Gibson ; the fact that 
the spires of both churches spring through the roof — a 
blunder never committed by Sir Christopher Wren — and 
the farther fact that Gibbs lived till 1754, and, we think, 
there is little doubt that St. Michael's was the work of 
Gibbs. This, however, is as each pleases. There is no evi- 
dence, so far as we can learn, that Sir Christopher Wren was 
the architect, and the fact that he died in 1723 is against 
the legend which has some hold on our people. 

After the above was written, the following extract from 
a letter dated 17661 by a Mr. Woodmason, who went to 
England from this Province, to be ordained a minister of 
the Church of England, was brought to our notice : " St. 
Michael's is a new-built Church, from the Model of that of 
Greenwich, being truss'd and roofed and no pillars ; is 
eighty feet by sixty, has a tower and steeple one hundred 
and ninety-six feet high and a ring of eight bells lately 
hung." This puts the matter in a new light, and inquiries 
are being made in England to see if there is still such a 
church in Greenwich." 

A beginning made, work went on steadily, but not 
very rapidly, so that we find in the Gazette for Dec. 29, 1758, 
the following : "Wednesday last (Dec. 27, Ed.) being St. 
John the Evangelist's Day, the Ancient and Honorable Fra- 
ternity of Free and Accepted Masons had a grand procession 

^Address J. J. P. Smith, Esq., in St. Philip's, May 13, 1875. App. 1 1. 
-These inquiries have proved that St. Michael's is not a copy of any 
Church at Greenwich. 



6 Apf'cndix to Year Book. 

from the Lodge Room, at Brother John Gordon's, to St. 
Michael's Church, where, besides the usual service, an An- 
them suitable to the Occasion, set to music by Brother 
Benjamin Yarnold, was sung and played by several masterly 
Hands, and an excellent Discourse on Universal Love and 
Benevolence delivered by their Rev. Brother, Mr. 
Martyn." Mr. Martyn was Rector of St. Andrew's, and is 
mentioned by Dalcho. 

At the time of this service the church could not have 
been finished, as the first Vestry was elected on Easter 
Monday, 1759, and qualified May 25, 1759, taking this oath : 

" We, the Church Wardens and Vestry of the Parish of 
St. Michael, Charlestown, whose names are hereunder 
written, do declare that We do Believe there is not any 
Transubstantiation in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, 
or in the Elements of Bread and Wine at or after the Con- 
secration thereof by any person whatsoever."' 

On Wednesday, July 18, 1759,- a letter was written by the 
Vestry to James Wright, Esq., of London, begging him to 
"use your Best Offices and Endeavors to Procure or Invite 
a Minister to come over to be Rector." He was to be " a 
Middle-aged ]\hin of a Grave Deportment, suitable to his 
Sacred Office, and of a good, audible Voice, as the Church 
is Large." The letter continues: "His Sallary is Fixed 
by Law at One Hundred and Fifty Pounds Proclamation 
Money, or Seven Hundred and Fifty Pounds Currency, per 
Annum and a coir.fortable house." This " sallary" was 
about £\\2 sterling. 

There was some trouble in procuring a parson in Eng- 
land, so on January 9, 1761, '"^ the Rev. Rob't Cooper. 
Assistant IMinister of St. Philip's, was called, and the first 
regular service was held by him in the new edifice, Sunday. 
February i, 1761-*— nearly nine years from the laying of the 
corner stone— with John Braund as Clerk. Through the 
courtesy of the Hon. W. A. Pringle, we are able to give 
the following "entry from the family Bible of Rob't 

>Okl Vestry Book, p. 3. ^Old Vestry Book, p. 3. 
■'Old Vestry Book. 7. 'OKI Vestry Rook. S. 



The J\irish Chinrh of St. MicJiacl. 7 

Pringle, Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in 
the Colony of South Carolina": 

" Feb'y i, 1761. — This Day being Sunday, Divine Service 
was performed for the first time in the New Church of St. 
Michael, in this Town of Charlestown, by the Rev. Mr. 
Rob't Cooper, who was invited to be Minister thereof, and 
preached a Sermon suitable to the occasion to a crowded 
congregation ; David Deas and myself being the Church 
Wardens ; and on said occasion ail my family went to 
Church and took possession of my Pew there, No. 29, in 
said Church."! 

The building just finished was 130 feet long, including 
the portico, and 60 feet wide ; it was of brick, with a slate 
roof, but, curiously enough, the porch seems to have been 
shingled, for in 1774 we find the vestry ordering the porch 
to be ''new-shi?igled.'"'- Later, it was slated like the rest of 
the roof. 

At the west end of the church, a graceful steeple rises to 
the height of 186 feet from the ground,^ and at the top is 
a gilt ball, and above that a vane. The ball is of black 
cypress, covered with copper,"* and the wood is as sound as 
the day it was erected, and, strange to say, was little 

^See Appendix No. i for List of probable congregation. ^Old Vestry Book, 132. 

3 The following is from the,] Charleston Conner of December 8, 1835, the 

measurements having been taken l)y Mr. John M. Schnierle, in September, 

1832 : 

FKET. INCHES. 

From point of rod to top of vane 8 6 

Width of Vane i 9 

From bottom of vane to top of ball 7 S 

From top of ball to eve of roof over pigeon hole 5 5 

Thence to first velt under pigeon hole .... 6 9 

From first velt to second velt : 16 7 

From second velt to eve of steeple roof 8 5 

Thence to floor of balcony 17 7 

Thence to floor of belfry 22 2 

Thence to top of portico roof 48 3 

Thence to pavement 43 2 

Total 186 3 

Sunk during earthquake, Aug. 31, 1886*.. 8 

Present Height 185 7 

The vane is 7 feet, 3^ inches long. 

*Mr. John Gourdin, Architect in charge of repairs. 
■* Personal Examination, 



8 Appendix to Year Book. 

hurt when it was blown down by the cyclone of August 25, 
1885, and fell to the street below ; making a spherical depres- 
sion in the heavy flagstone of the pavement. It had just been 
restored to its usual place, when the earthquake of August 
31, 1886, shattered the church, but its stability was not affect- 
ed, though it is now about 8 inches nearer to the ground, 
owing to the sinking of the steeple. Most of the woodwork 
of the interior is of red cedar, and in perfect preservation. 

The cost of the Church was ^53,535-18-9 currency, equal 
at seven to one in gold, to $32,775.87.^ Of this £2\,%Tj 
currency was subscribed for pews, and ^31,656-18-9 cur- 
rency was granted by the Assembly. Dalcho states these 
figures to be from the accounts of Samuel Prioleau, Secre- 
tary to the Commissioners, and they have been to some ex- 
tent verified by personal examination of what remains of 
the original documents. Three times the money would not 
do the work now, but at the time of building, bricks were 
about three dollars a thousand and lime six cents per 
bushel, while white bricklayers and mechanics got about $1.40 
a day, and negroes 70 cents. ^ Part of the lime used is said 
to have been made from the shells of an immense mound, 
near Fort Johnson, evidently of Indian origin. ^ 

No sooner was the congregation settled in their new 
church than they began to raise the money for "a Ring of 
Bells," and on January 6, 1762,'* it was ordered that a sub- 
scription be opened for that purpose. 

At the next meeting of the Vestry,^ February 18th, 1762, 
we find the Wardens " acquainting the Vestry that they had 
received from His Excellency, Governor Boone, a Service of 
Altar Plate, consisting of Two Flagons, a Chalice and Cover, 
and a large Dish, which His Excellency had been pleased to 
present To and For the use of St. Michael's Church, and that 
they, the Church Wardens, had thereupon Immediately sent 
their Thanks to His Excellency in behalf of the Vestry and 
Parishoners. It was resolved and ordered that on each piece 
of Plate the following words be engraven, viz : The Gift of 
His Excellency Thomas Boone, Esqr., Governor of this Pro- 

^Dalcho, p. 187. -Original Bills. ^Drayton's Carolina, p. 56. 

^Old Vestry Book, 17. ^Old Vestry Book, 17. 



The Parish Church of St. Micliacl. 9 

vince, To The Church of St. Michael, Charles Town, So. Car- 
olina, 1762." At the same meeting, thanks are returned 
for a " Neat Quarto Common Prayer Book," presented by- 
Richard Lambton, Esqr., a " Neat Folio Bible, one Folio 
and two Quarto Common Prayer Books, from Jacob Motte, 
Esqr., Public Treasurer of this Province." 

It may be as well to state here that two silver alms dishes 
were added by George Somers, Esqr., in 1764;' a chalice 
similar to the first, by " Elias Horry, Esqr., Tntendant of 
this City," as the inscription states, in 1816;- and a silver 
Christening Basin, by Miss Ann McPherson, in September, 
1819. This plate vvas sent to Columbia during the war be- 
tween the States, and was lost when Sherman burnt that 
town.^ 

After the war the Vestry advertised for it, but without suc- 
cess, and their pleasure may be imagined, when on the 17th 
June, 1867,4 they received one of the tankards through the 
generosity of Hon. Alexander W. Bradford, who noticed it 
m a pawn broker's shop in New York. The cover of the 
chalice was bought in Ohio a year or two later,^ but nothing 
was ever heard of the remainder. 

The plate now consists of the two pieces just described ; 
a paten inscribed " St. George's, Dorchester, S. C, 1755. 
Presented to St. Michael's Church by Richard Lathers, Esq., 
Charleston, S. C, April, 1871;" another paten inscribed, 
" The gift of Henry Middleton, Esq., to St. George's Church, 
in Dorchester, 1755. Presented to St. Michael's Church by 
Henry A. Middleton, Esq., Charleston, S. C, April, 1871 ; " 
a silver alms dish, inscribed, " St. Michael's Church, 
Charleston, S. C. Glory Be To God In The Highest. 
Alleluia" — this was a gift of Mr. Eugene P. Jervey — and 
two silver chalices inscribed, " St. Michael's Church, 
Charleston, S. C, 1870." 

Thus in recent times as in the past the church has had many 
friends, and we must not omit from the list the Hon. 
Edward Fenwick, who in 1763,'' presented crimson velvet 

iQld Vestry Book, 42. '^Dalcho. 188. »New Vestry Book, i/3i. 

*Nevv Vestry Book, 161. Mr. James M. Wilson. "Old Vestry Book, 27. 



lo Appendix to Yccxr Book. 

coverings and curtains, trimmed with gold lace, for the 
communion table ; and Jacob Motte, Esq., who a year later 
furnished it with Damask table-cloths and napkins.^ 

During its entire existence, St. Michael's has been useful 
to the public at large, as well as to its own congregation, 
and so even before its clock and bells were there to serve 
the citizens ; its yard was used to keep the fire engine in ; 
as is proved by a resohation of the Vestry of April 26, 1762,2 
and as late as 1821 we find that the city fire buckets were 
kept there. 3 

The original parsonage was in Queen Street, but proving 
unsuited to its purpose was sold December 10, 1764,-* for 
i^3, 300 currency, and September 11, 1765,5 a new glebe was 
bought for i^2,700 currency;*' and the three story brick 
house on the west side of Meeting Street, now No. 39, was 
built; having been finished towards the end of 1767 at a 
cost of ^^"4,537-15-0 currency, the outbuildings and well 
adding ^^762-5-0 currency to the bill, besides ^^19 " ballance" 
due on final settlement.' This house was sold in 18 17, and 
is now owned by Mr. Jas. M. Wilson. 

The bells and clock reached Charlestown in the ship 
Little Carpenter, July 15, 1764,^ and were soon in their 
present positions, except that the works of the clock were 
at first above the bells instead of below, as at present. 

The clock was built by Aynsworth Thwayts, of London, 
and was described in his offer as " a strong 30 Hour Clock, 
to show the Hour Four Ways, to strike the Hour on the 
Largest Bell and the quarters on four Bells, as the Royal 
Exchange, London ;"^ to cost with dial plates, &c., ;^I94 
sterling in London. It will be noticed that it is " to show 
the //c?;/r Four Ways " and this is all it showed till 1849, 
when, with the consent of the Vestry, the City Council added 
minute hands. The. quarters are now struck on tJiree bells, 
not on four as formerly. The freight both of bells and 
clock was presented by the owners of the " Little Carpen- 

'Old Vestry Book, 39. -Old Vestry Book, p. 19. ^Old Vestry Book, 508. 
^Old Vestry Book, 51. "'Old Vestry Book, 42. «01d Vestry Book, 58. 
"Old Vestry Book, 65. "5. C Gazette, Oct. i, 1764. ^Old Vestry Book, 34. 



The Parish Church of St. Michael. 1 1 

ter,""^ and the putting up cost only a trifle for carpenter's 
work, the watch-maker who was to take care of the clock 
directing them without charge. 

The first notice we have found of the bells is in the South 
Carolina Gazette, for July 26, 1760, where we are informed 
that " St. Michael's Church being now almost finished, we 
hear that a subscription is set on foot for purchasing a sett 
of bells for its steeple, the cost of which will be about 4 or 
500 £ Sterling ;" but they did not come for four years, ar- 
riving in the same ship as the clock. They were cast by 
Lester & Pack, of London, in 1764,^ and are described in 
founder's offer as "A Peal of 8 bells, the Tenor 18 cwt., the 
whole will weigh, more or less, 80 cwt., and to cost with 
clappers, etc., in London, ;!^58i-i4-4 Sterling." After the 
order was sent, the Vestry became alarmed at their weight, 
many thinking them too heavy for the steeple, and so they 
sent a request that only six bells be cast ; or that the eight 
be sold and six others bought. For some unexplained 
cause, the original order was carried out, and thus, by good 
fortune, we obtained one of the sweetest sets of bells in 
the world. Putting them up, frames, etc., cost about ^700 
currency, so that the total cost was £GZ\ sterling.^ 

For eighteen years they hung peacefully in their tower, 
but when Charlestown was to be evacuated by the British 
in December, 1782, Major Traille, of the Royal Artillery, 
claimed them as a perquisite of his corps, and carried them 
off on the last fleet that sailed from Charlestown December 
14, 1782. The Vestry appealed to Sir Guy Carlton, the 
British Commander-in-Chief, who was in New York, and he 
ordered their restoration, but too late ; for the bells had 
been shipped to London, and were beyond his jurisdic- 
tion.* 

An appeal was then made "To The Honorable the .Sec- 
retary at War, White Hall, London, but elicited no re- 
sponse.^ 

A Mr. Ryhiner," a merchant, formerly of Charlestown, 

iQld Vestry Book. 38. ^O. V. B., 34. sQid Vestry Book, 43. 
'Vestry Book. 168. ^qm Vestry Book, 172. '^Old Vestry Book, 1S4. 



1 2 Appendix to Year Book. 

bought the bells "as a commercial adventure,"' and shipped 
them back to Charlestown in the " Lightning,'' which ar- 
rived here November 20, 1783,2 so that the bells were absent 
only about a year. 

In Johnson's Traditions, it is stated that " when landed 
on the wharf, the overjoyed citizens took possession, and 
hurried them up to the church and into the steeple, without 
thinking that they might be violating a private right." Be 
this as it may, we find Mr. Ryhiner, in June, 1785,^ apply- 
ing to the Vestry for payment for them, and the 
Vestry replying : "This Vestry having never interfered in 
any shape in the matter, Mr. Ryhiner is perfectly at lib- 
erty to do what he pleases with the bells ;" and in Decem- 
ber, 1787,'* they order a subscription to pay for them, but 
with what result we have been unable to learn. 

So the bells rang every evening and for all fires, besides 
calling the people to church on Sundays and Holy days, 
and playing patriotic airs on the 28th of June and 4th of 
July, till, in 1832,-^ two of them were found to be cracked, 
and one Amity Bailey undertook to mend them." 

He never carried out his agreement, however, and in 
1838, the two cracked bells were sent to England in the ship 
Chichora, to be recast, and reached home in August, 1839, 
the cost being $428.04.'' 

Their next adventure was soon after the battle of Seces- 
sionville, in June, 1862,"^ when they were sent to Columbia, 
S. C, for safe keeping, and there burned by Sherman's army 
in February, 1865.^ 

As soon as the war was over, the fragments were gathered 
up, and in the spring of 1866, at least five of the bells were 
shipped to Mears & Stainbank,' " the successors of the orig- 
inal founders, who still carried on the business in London, 
and recast of the same amalgam, and in moulds made 
with the same trammels.' ' They reached Charleston on the 

'Johnson's Traditions, 402. ^King's Newspaper Press of Chr., 36. 
■^Old Vestry Book, 185. ^Qld V. B'k, 164. ^N.V. B'k, 40. 
«N. V. Book, 68. 'N. V. Book, 70. «N.V. B., 137. 
■''N. V. Book, 146. i"N. V. Book, 150. - ^N. V. Book, 152. 



The Parish Church of St. Micliacl. t 3 

Norwegian bark Gladstone, February, 1867/ when it was 
found that an import duty of about $2,200- must be paid 
upon them. This sum was not forthcoming, so an appeal 
was made to the pubHc, and was most liberally responded 
to by the citizens of all denominations, a sacred concert at 
Citadel Square Baptist Church yielding $361.50,'^ so that this 
difficulty was soon overcome, and on Thursday, March 21st, 
1867, the old, familiar music once more floated over the 
City, and as the bells played"* 

" Home again ! Home again ! From a foreign shore," 

not a few eyes were full of grateful tears. 

The writer, then a lad, recalls the general joy, and well 
remembers how the sound of the bells seemed amid those 
dark days of misrule, an augury of better times to come. 
People ran out into the street to hear them, and everybody 
seemed happy that afternoon. The Courier of Saturday, 
March 23d, 1867, says : " We learn that the ringing of St. 
Michael's chimes will commence to-morrow, and that the 
old custom observed before the war will be resumed and 
continued. The ringing will commence with the large bell, 
more familiarly known as the 9 o'clock bell. This will be 
followed by the general summons and a familiar hymn, to 
conclude with "The Parson's General Call," 

The total cost of recasting the bells and restoring them 
to their place in the steeple, was $7,723.01, currency — gold 
being at a premium of about 36 — of which sum the City 
Council contributed nearly $3,000. ''• 

It may also be of interest to add that the duty was re- 
funded, June 8, 1878, by Act of Congress, 

In old times they used to ring the bells on all occasions, 
till at a meeting of the Vestry, September 11, 1794, it was 

" Resolved, iinaninioiLsly , That the bells of St, Michael's 
Church shall not in future be rung but for the usual services 
of the Church on Sundays, prayer days, &c. ; also the warn- 
ing evening bell, by desire of the City Council ; also, in case 
of fire, and in no other case whatsoever, excepting by per- 

^ving's Newspaper Press, 36. ^Filesof Courier. ^N. V. Book, 176. 
^Courier, March 22, 1867. ^N. V. B., 176. 



14 Appendix to Year Book. 

mission regularly obtained from a majority of the Vestry."' 
The " evening bell " was rung, save during the war, at 
seven and nine o'clock in winter, and at eight and ten 
o'clock in summer, up to September 7th, 1882.2 

Timrod's " Christmas "—written during the late war — so 
well expresses the feelings of most Charleston people for 
the old bells, that we use part of it without apology : 

" How grace this hallowed day ? 
Shall happy bells, from yonder ancient spire, 
Send their glad greetings to each Christmas fire, 

Round which the children play ? 

Alas ! for many a moon, 
That tongueless tower hath cleaved the Sabbath air. 
Mute as an obelisk of ice, aglare 

Beneath an Arctic noon. 

Shame to the foes that drown 
Our psalms of worship with their impious drum, 
The sweetest chimes in all the land lie dumb 

In some far rustic town. 

There, let us think, they keep, 
Of the dead Yules which here beside the sea. 
They've ushered in with old-world, English glee. 

Some echoes in their sleep." 

Hardly less joyful than the first ringing of the bells after 
the war was the striking of the clock at two P. M. on 
Wednesday September 8th, -"^ just about a week after it was 
silenced by the earthquake. For days the hands on the 
dial had pointed to the fateful hour of 9.54, and no sound 
had come from the dear old steeple. But at last Mr, John 
Beesley, the sexton bravely ventured up to the clock room 
and set the ancient time piece going, so that presently, its 
well known sound rang out, carrying joy and renewed hope 
to many a terror stricken heart. It seemed as if things had 
returned to their normal condition, and that now life might 
flow on in its accustomed channels. 

This digression has carried us very far from 1764, and we 

^O. V. B., 215. '^News and Courier, September q, 1S82. 
^News and Courier, September g, 1SS6. 



Tlic Parish Cluircli of St. Mic/iacL 1 5 

must retrace our steps to that period, when the Vestry was 
talking of an organ, and writing to David Deas and 
Edgerton Leigh, Esq'rs. two of the parishioners then in 
London for advice as to the procuring of an instrument;^ 
which did not reach Charleston, however, till August, 1768.2 
It was built by Snetzler-* said in a letter from the Church's 
London agent, to be " now the most considerable and most 
reputable organ builder in England." The cost including 
freight and putting up was ^^568 sterling.-* 

This is the present organ, and there is a tradition that it 
was first played at the coronation of George III in West- 
minter Abbey, but there seems no foundation for this ; yet, 
curiously enough, we find the Vestry thanking Chas. Brock- 
ett, Esq., for " enquiring about the Coronation Organ," but 
declining it as too costly ; and this gives a hint of how the 
story arose.-'' 

The next interesting entry in the old records is, "A Mar- 
ble Font was also thought necessary to be got ; when it 
was agreed that a neat one of an oval form, to stand upon a 
mahogany frame, to run upon brass casters, and not exceed- 
ing the price often guineas, should be wrote for to England 
by the first opportunity. "•* 

This was done, and on Christmas Eve, 1771,'' the Vestry 
received their purchase, which still stands at the right hand 
side of the middle aisle just as you enter. 

The next few years rolled quietly away, so far as the 
church was concerned, and there is no trace in its records 
of the Stamp Act Excitement, of 1765, the only event of 
that year being the election of the Rev. Samuel Hart, lately 
returned from " Mobeille," as Assistant Minister, his connec- 
tion with the church beginning on the 2nd June, 1765,^ and 
ending by his resignation, June 2nd, 1770." 

In 1764, mention is made of a "portico originally in- 
tended," which seems to have been designed for the north 
side of the church, perhaps to stand over the door on Broad 
Street, closed about 1823. 

iQ. V. B., 46. 20. V. B., 77. "Spelt also Schetzler. ^O. V. B., 78. 
"'O. V. B., 26. '-O. V. B., 105. "O. V. B., HI. ^O. V. B., 55. 
•■'0. V. B., Q7. 



1 6 Appendix to Year Book. 

In 1770, a small trouble turns up, which shows that peo- 
ple do not change very much, At a Vestry meeting on the 
28th of May, of that year, " The Wardens informed the 
Vestry that several young men made a practice of assem- 
bling under the Piazza at the West Door of the Church, and 
disturbed the congregation very much at the end of the 
church, with walking backwards and forwards, trailing sticks 
on the Flaggs, and talking loud during Divine Service on Sun- 
day Forenoons, that they are frequently obliged to go out 
and speak to them, either to go into the Church or go home, 
which they refuse to do, and treat the Wardens with con- 
tempt ; therefore asked the opinion of the Vestry, what 
method they should take to prevent it in future — who 
thought it the best way to summons such persons before a 
Magistrate." 

On the 19th of December, of the same year, " the Rev. 
Mr. John Bullman arrived in the ship Carolina Packet, Cap- 
tain White, from London, Assistant Minister St. Michael's 
Parish." 1 

For the next few years the church was happy, for it had 
no history; but soon the Revolutionary storm makes itself 
heard in the Vestry minutes, and on August 15, 1774,^ we 
find that body considering a sermon preached the day 
before by the Rev. Mr. Bullman, "which had given great 
offense and exasperated many of the inhabitants." 

The objectionable sermon reminded the good people of 
the Province of the duty of minding their own business, 
and the following passages must have come with stinging 
force to the ears of men who were on the eve of throwing 
off the existing form of government : 

"In short, it is from this unhappy Temper that every idle 
Projector who cannot, perhaps, govern his own household, 
or pay the debts of his own contracting, presumes he is 
qualified to dictate how the State should be governed, and 
to point out the means of paying the Debt of a Nation. 
Hence, too, it is that every silly Clown and illiterate Me- 



'0. V. B., 103. . 20, V. B., 130. 



The Parisli CJutrcli of St. Michael. ly 

chanic will take upon him to censure the conduct of his 
Prince or Governour, and contribute as much as in him lies 
to create and foment those Misunderstandings which, being 
brooded by Discontent and diffused through great Multi- 
tudes, come at last to end in Schism in the Church and Se- 
dition and Rebellion in the State; so great a matter doth a 
little Fire kindle." 

Mr. Bullman would not listen to the remonstrances of the 
Vestry, and absolutely refused to change or modify his 
words ; so a meeting of* the congregation was called, and by 
a vote of forty-two to thirty-three, disapproved of the ser- 
mon, whereupon the Vestry informed Mr. Bullman that he 
was " no longer to officiate at St. Michael's Church." ^ 

But that did not settle the matter, for at the next meeting 
the Vestry received a letter requesting Mr. Bullman's re- 
call, and signed by seventy-four inhabitants of the Parish. 
Whereupon, "the, Vestry, considering the same, and referring 
to the minutes of the 15th and i8th instant, are fully satis- 
fied with the Propriety of their Conduct respecting Mr. 
Bullman." The signers of the letter then appealed to the 
Church Commissioners of the Province, but the revolution 
put an end to that body before the appeal was considered. 

The Vestry chosen, on Easter Monday, April i8th, 1776, 
did not take the usual oath, but one to defend the Consti- 
tution of South Carolina, as established by Congress on the 
26th March, 1876 ;2 and on the 2d July, of the same year, 
we find it meeting to discuss the refusal of the Rev. Dr. 
Cooper " to take the oath prescribed by His Excellency the 
President, and by him ordered to be administered to any 
inhabitants, by the Captains of the Militia," and after de- 
liberating on the matter, calling a meeting of the congre- 
gation for July 2d, at which it was decided to call a new 
Minister. 

We cannot prevent a feeling of respect and pity from steal- 
ing over us as we think of the struggle it must have cost the 
good Doctor to sever the ties of years and to give up a com- 



^O. V. B., 131. 20. V. Book, 140. 



1 8 Appendix to Year Book. 

fortable home and salary for conscience sake ; and it is pleas- 
ant to know that the English Government settled an annuity 
of ;£"iooupon him,and that he obtained a cure in England — 
curiously enough, St. Michael's, Cornhill.^ Much difficulty 
was found in procuring a successor to Doctor Cooper, and 
it was not till March 22d, 1778,2 that the Rev. Charles Fred- 
erick Moreau became Rector, no attempt being made to 
supply Mr. Bullman's place. 

At the time of the British invasion of 1776, lead was 
scarce, and St. Michael's seems to have given some from its 
roof, for in December, 1778, the Vestry apply for a restora- 
tion of the " Leads which were taken from the church for 
the publick use."^ 

In the same year a brick-wall was built on the south and 
west sides of the church-yard"* and they are probably the 
present ones ; as to the rest of the wall I am uncertain, as the 
eastern part of the lot was bought in this century ; a piece 
of land, measuring forty feet front on Broad Street by one 
hundred and fifty-five deep, being purchased, in 1816, for 
$7,000 ;^ and the piece back of this, forty by forty, with the 
present Sunday-school building in 1836 for $3,600.^ On the 
former of these lots there was a house very near to the 
church, and so, for fear of fire the chancel window was 
bricked up in 1788,'' and entirely forgotten, till, on St. Valen- 
tines Day, 1865,^ a shell from the Federal batteries on Mor- 
ris Island came right through the east end of the chancel, 
knocking out the new brick work, and giving a rather strong 
hint of improvement, which was taken, and the window re- 
stored, when the church was repaired after the War of 
Secession. Fortunately such valentines are rare. 

Easter Monday, 1780, fell about the beginning of the 
siege of the town, by the British, and there is no record of an 
election for Vestrymen and Wardens ; and the same thing 
occurred in 1781, so that it was not till July 2, 1781, that 
we find an election held "by order of the Commandant,"" 

iDalcho, 205. 20. V. B., 151. ^O. V. B., 154. *0. V. B., 154. 
*Reg. M. C. ^Original Deed. "O. V. B., 200. 
i^Mr. John Beesley, the Sexton. ''O. V. B., 156. 



TJic Paris! I ChurcJi of St. Michael. 1 9 

which resulted in the return of a Vestry entirely different 
from its predecessor. 

The new Vestry held its first meeting July 16, 1781, and 
were "informed that Jno. Cruden, Esq., Commissary of 
sequestered estates generously offered to give up the use of 
such pews as were under his directions for the benefit of 
the church."^ The Rev. Edward Jenkins was called to the 
rectorship, and the church was opened on Sunday, July 29, 
1781.- The Vestry of the next year held no meeting till 
October, when it was certain that the British would soon 
leave the town, and that their friends would have to reckon 
with the victorious and exasperated whigs. The church 
plate was valuable, and the Vestry met to consider the offer 
of Edward Lightwood, one of the last Vestry prior to the 
siege — to take charge of it during the disorder of the 
evacuation. 3 This they decided to do, if the State authori- 
ties sanctioned it, and so they sent to Gov. Mathews, at 
Izard's Plantation, on Ashley River, and finding the plan 
agreeable to him, turned the Communion Service and 
Vestry Book over to Mr, Lightwood. 

On the re-entry of the Americans, the Rev. Hy. Purcell,* 
at one time Chaplain to the second South Carolina Regi- 
ment, commanded by Moultrie, began to officiate, but just 
how the Church was managed is not known, as there is no 
record of Vestry meetings ; and in March, 1783, Gov. Guerard 
issued an order for the election of a Vestry, to take place on 
Easter Monday, April 21st, " there being no Wardens." 

Mr. Purcell continued to officiate, but was not regularly 
elected Rector till April 2d, 1784,^ though allowed his salary 
from the evacuation by the British, December 14th, 1782. 

In May, 1785, the Church was incoporated jointly with 
St. Philip's, and as a separate corporation in 1791 ;^ and 
three years after was repaired, and a parapet either added 
or rebuilt on the north and south sides. This seems to 
have caused the building to leak, and at last the Vestry pro- 
posed to remove it, and about 1847'' this proposal was car- 
ried out. 



^O. V. B., 158. ^O. V. B,i59. ^o. V. B., i6r. *0. V. B., 175. 
50. V. B., 175. "Dalcho, 206. "N. V. B., 96. 



20 AppetuVix to Year Book. 

For a time after the Revolution, the Church, no longer 
helped by the Government, was in considerable financial 
difficulty, but gradually things improved, so that on March 
19th, 1790,^ the Rev. Thomas Gates, D. D., was elected co- 
Rector, and served till October 25th, 1796,- when he re- 
siged, and the Rev. Ed. Jenkins, D. D., was chosen as Dr. 
Purcell's colleague, an arrangement which lasted till the 
resignation of the former, December 17th, 1804.^ 

There is mention, in 1794,^* of the evening bells — abolished 
by the City Council September 7th, 1882,5 when the Fire 
Alarm Telegraph went into operation — and there was some 
trouble about the St. Cecilia Band assisting at service in 
1798," and at the same meeting the Sexton is directed not to 
allow "any horses or cattle to graze in the Church yard in 
future.'"^ 

Mr. Purcell died March 24, 1802,'^ and the Rev. Nathaniel 
Bowen was chosen to supply the place, entering upon his 
duties December 19, 1802.^ 

At a Vestry meeting, August 8, 1802, mention is made 
of a legacy of ;^20, " left by Aaron Locock, Esq., towards 
the purchase of a chandelier," and in March, 1803, the 
present one, with "three pair of branches, for the Pulpit, 
Reading Desk and Organ Loft/'^" was ordered from Joseph 
Lewis, of London, and the bill, ;^i02-i8-io Sterling, or- 
dered to be paid in the December following, but there is no 
mention of when it was put up.' ' 

Pounds, shillings and pence are always used in the 
church's accounts up to this time, but in July, 1803,^2 ^ 
change is made to dollars and cents. 

Upon the resignation of Dr. Jenkins, as mentioned above, 
an arrangement was made between St. Philip's and St. 
Michael's to have an Assistant in common, and the Rev. 
Wm. Percy was elected to this position, entering upon the 
functions of his office January, 1805. ^^ This agreement 

AQ. V. B., 203. -O. V. B., 222. *0. V. B., 20S. 'O. V. B., 215. 
^News and Courier, September 9, 1SS2. «0. V. B., 235. "O. V. B., 235. 
«Dalcho. 220. »0. V. B.,277. lOQ. V. B., 2S0. > Ul. V. B.. 294. 
120. V. B.. 2S3. i^O. V. B.. 30S. 



The Parish Church of Sf. Michael. 21 

lasted till the close of 1809, when the Rev. Theodore 
Dehon took charge of the church, ^ Mr. Bowen having ten- 
dered his resignation in the preceding May, but officiating 
till late in the year. 

On the loth June, 1804,^ the Vestry was authorized by a 
meeting of the congregation to enlarge the Church by 
adding forty-two pews below and twelve in the gallery, 
to the east end of the building;'' this plan came up again in 
iSio,"* and a third time in 1833,'^ but expended its energy in 
resolutions. The same fate seems to have overtaken a pro- 
posal to cut down the pews made in 1824," and authorized 
by the Vestry. 

On the sixth of August, 1817,'' the death of Bishop 
Dehon, who in spite of his elevation to the Episcopate, 
February 19, 1812,^ continued to be the Rector of St. 
Michael's, left the church without a parson, and, so, on the 
thirteenth of August, 1817,^ they called Dr. Nathaniel 
Bowen, their former pastor, and he returned to his old post 
March i, 1818.^" Like his immediate predecessor, he was 
Bishop of this Diocese, that dignity having been conferred 
upon him February i8th, 1818.'^ As the duties of the two 
offices soon became greater than one person could fulfil, 
Dr. Frederick Dalcho was elected Assistant on the 23d 
February 1819.^^ 

When the church was built there was a cross aisle with a 
door at each end of it, but time having proved this aisle 
unnecessary, and there being a great demand for space, it 
was replaced in 1818^3 by eight pews, and later the north 
door was closed; just when we do not know, but think it 
was in 1823,1'* as at that time a new pew is mentioned, and 
there was no place for one except where the door had 
been. 

In May, of the same year, we find a bill paid for ornament- 
ing the church on Whitsunday, a custom now obsolete;^ ^ and 
that reminds us of another old usage, that of reading the 

iQ. V. B., 372. 20. V. B., 300. »Do., 29S. tDo., 377. ^q. V. B., 46. 

«0. V. B., 537. "Tablet in Church. "Dalcho, 224. *0. V. B., 456. 
i«0. V. B., 465. "Dalcho. 211. i^Oalcho. 212. 
"O. V. B., 476. i*Do.,53i. ''^ Do. 530. 



22 Appendix to Year Book. 

Citations of the Ordinary in the churches on Sunday, which 
was only discontinued by an Act of the Legislature, passed 
at the request of the people of St. Michael's in December, 
1824.1 

The clerk held on till October ist, 1835, when he, too, fol- 
lowed the usual path of old fashions ; as did the choir of sur- 
pliced boys, who are frequently mentioned, as when, in 
1798, we find a bill for " washing the surplaces of clerg)' 
and children f'^ and a little earlier, the Vestry requesting the 
Rector to entertain, at their expense, six of the orphan boys 
on Sunday, as "an incitement for their better performance 
of the Service" ;^ and in 1807 the Organist is requested to 
have at least twelve choir boys.^ When this form of music 
was discontinued we do not know. 

There were two other old customs in St. Michael's, now 
given up, the preaching of a sermon on New Year's day, by 
special direction of the will of Benjamin Smith, dated Feb- 
ruary 15th, 1768,^ which changes Pew No. 4, in the middle 
aisle, with the payment of £2^ currency, "to such minister as 
shall preach a sermon every New Year's Day in said Church 
of St. Michael ;" and the session's sermons, thus described 
in Fraser's Reminiscences : 

" Among the old customs of the Bar, now abolished, was 
the preaching of sessions sermons, for which the Minister 
was allowed, by law, a sum of three pounds, to be paid by 
the Sheriff out of fines and forfeitures. The last that I re- 
member in Charleston, was preached by the Rev. James D. 
Simons, in St. Michael's Church. But looking over an old 
State Gazette of January, 1799, I found the notice of a 
session sermon preached in St. Michael's Church, by the 
Rev. Dr. Purcell ; and this recalled to my mind an incident 
connected with that very occasion. Mr. John Rutledge, of 
revolutionary celebrity (who died in May, 1800), chanced to 
meet me near the Church, whilst the Judge and Sheriff, and 
a few officers of the court, were crossing over from the court- 
house. Seeing this scant and motley procession, he asked 

^N. V. B., 3. 20. V. B., 232. -^O. V. B., 215. iQ. V. B., 346. 
^O. V. B., 495. 



llic Parish Cliunli of St. MicJiacl. 23 

what it meant. I told him they were going to hear a ses- 
sions sermon, when he observed how differently it had been 
conducted formerly, when the judges, in their scarlet robes, 
and the lawyers, also robed, and all the attendants of the 
court, proceeded in great form to the church." 

The idea of holding public meetings in the churches is 
rather strange to people of the present generation, but for 
the first seventy years of St. Michael's life, it was the favorite 
place for that purpose, and a record of some of the most 
important of these maybe of interest. 

The S. C. Gazette, of December 31, 1765, says : " Friday 
(December 27, Ed.), being the Feast of St. John Evan- 
gelist, the Society of Free Masons assembled in the Morn- 
ing, and went in Procession to St. Michael's Church, where 
an excellent Discourse, suitable to the occasion, was deliv- 
ered by the Rev. Mr. Hart, Assistant of said Church, the 
members present being in Number about 160; among whom 
were the Right Worshipful Benjamin Smith, Esq., Provin- 
cial Grand Master ; the Hon. Egerton Leigh, Esq., Deputy 
Grand Master, and many other Gentlemen of Distinction." 

The Cincinnati, the Revolution Society and the Palmetto 
Society used to have their annual orations there on the 
Fourth of July, and these celebrations are so well described 
by Mr. Eraser that we again quote him : 

"St. Philip's and St. Michael's being the largest churches, 
were generally chosen for the occasion, and were always 
densely crowded. The clergymen who officiated respect- 
ively had been both Revolutionary patriots and wore the 
badge of the Cincinnati with their canonicals. It was in- 
teresting to behold the original members of the Cincinnati 
on those occasions, most of them dressed in their Revolu- 
tionary uniforms. Among them were officers who had been 
with Washington at Trenton, at Valley Forge, German- 
town, Brandyvvine, at Monmouth and at Yorktovvn ; then 
there was the gallant Moultrie, surrounded by many of the 
officers who had been with him on the 28th of June, 1776, 
and also Col. Washington, distinguished at Guilford, Cow- 
pens and Eutaw. 



24 Appendix of Year Book. 

" There amongst this honored group were to be seen those 
gentlemen whose handwriting has bound South Carolina to 
the compact of independence, for Governor Edward Rut- 
ledge and Judge Heyward were both then alive." 

Mr. Fraser also mentions a meeting of the citizens held 
here in May, 1798, during the troubles with France, which 
resulted in the building of Fort Mechanic, " which stood 
precisely on the spot where Mr. Holmes' house on the Bat- 
tery is now placed." Now No. 19. 

Another meeting was held on the 3d of July of the same 
year, and within a few weeks $100,000 was raised, and with 
it the ''John Adams,'' a frigate of thirty-two guns, was built 
for the navy of the United States. 

Again, in 1812, the people of Charleston met in the old 
church to consider how best to aid the Government in the 
war just begun ; and so it went on till. In 1832, the Vestry 
decided not to allow meetings in future, and they were dis- 
continued.^ 

But there is also an amusing side to our story, as when in 
18062 the Vestry petitioned the City Council for leave to 
place chains across Broad and Meeting Streets during 
divine service on Sunday, in order to get rid of the noise of 
vehicles. Whereupon a fierce newspaper war arose, one 
signing himself " VVickliff" attacking the petition, and the 
Vestry replying in resolutions of some acerbity, the result 
being that Council very wisely refused to grant the desired 
permission. 

As the Vestry desired to manage the public, so some one 
desired to manage the Vestry, and they choosing a parson, 
not to his liking, he swore he would pull the clergyman out 
of the pulpit, if he attempted to preach ; and on Sunday 
smuggled a cast-net into the church ; placing himself in the 
front of the south gallery, near the pulpit. All went well, 
till the parson ascended the tall pulpit and began to give 
out the text, when the madman — for such he was — rose and 
took a cast for his victim, meaning to entangle and drag 
him down. Luckily, the net caught on the sounding-board, 

IN. V. B., 40. 20. V. B.. 325. 



The Parisli Church of St. Michael. 2% 

and the lunatic was secured before he could do any harm. 
This story we have on the best oral evidence, and Dr. Percy 
is said to have been the divine. This is the Dr. Percy who 
" was the first to deliver an address on the anniversary of 
our Independence;"! and this reminds us that the first ad- 
ministration of the Rite of Confirmation in this State was 
by Bishop Smith, in 1813, at St. Michael's.- 

In 1835, the Rev. W. W. Spear^ was elected Assistant in 
consequence of the feeble health of Dr. Dalcho, so that the 
Church had three Ministers, till the death of the historian 
of the Church in South Carolina, November 24, 1836 \^ a loss 
followed three years later by that of the Rector, Bishop 
Bowen, who died August 25, 1839.^ The Assistant, Mr. 
Spear, was chosen to succeed him, on the first of October 
of the same year," but only continued witli the Church 
twelve months, resigning October i, 1840;'' when the Rev. 
Paul Trapier became Rector, and the Rev. Paul Trapier 
Keith, Assistant— a rather strange coincidence as to names. 

For six years these gentlemen served St. Michael's, but 
on the the twenty sixth of November, 1846,^ Mr. Trapier re- 
signed and Mr. Keith ^ was chosen in his place. The vacant 
place of assistant was filled by Mr. Thos.John Young, on the 
22d, of May, 1847,1 " and he held that position till his lament- 
ed death Oct. nth, 1852,11 when the scholary divine, James 
W. Miles, was chosen to succeed him, January 2/, 1853. 
Mr. Miles resigned on account of ill health the next year.i^ 
and his place was filled by the election of Rev. James H. 
Elliott, November 25, 1853.1^ 

There are no other events worthy of record between that 
time and the War of Secession, unless it be that the color of 
the steeple was changed from white to brown, an occurrence 
which made a great impression on the small boys, as the 
writer can testify. The history of the church during the 
late war is best told by the following chronicle from the pen 
of the late venerable A. E. Miller, i^ the Almanac maker, 

^Dalcho, 238. -Dalcho, 211. ^N. V. B.. 66. ^ Tablet in Church. 
"^Tablet in Church. '^N. V. 15., 72. 'N. V. B., 77 »N. V. B., 90, 
9N. V. B.. 92. i"N. V. B., 92. 'iTablet, '^N. V. B.,nQ. 
i^N. V. B., 114. 'nM. V, B., 136. 
4 



26 jlppoidix to Year Book. 

who died August 9, 1879, aged ninety-four years, after 
having worshiped at St. Michael's "from time whereof the 
memory of man runneth not to the contrary." 

'* Mr. A. E. Miller submitted the following chronicle of the 
events of the siege, as affecting the church : 

" On Sunday, 19th November, 1863, which had been ap- 
pointed a Thanksgiving Day by the city authorities, the 
service of the church was performed as appointed in the 
Prayer Book, by the Rev. Paul Trapier Keith, Rector. The 
Congregation was dismissed without a sermon, in conse- 
quence of shells thrown into the city, on that day, from the 
United States Batteries erected on Morris Island, four miles 
off. One of them exploded at the church door as the con- 
gregregation were leaving it. Another struck the Guard 
House opposite, the steeple of the church being the object 
at which the enemy aimed. The church was closed from 
this time, and on the Sunday following many repaired to 
St. Paul's Church, in consequence of a public invitation to 
that effect. The Rector left the city during the week fol- 
lowing. The Assistant Minister, Rev. James H. Elliott, 
was absent at the time, and did not return until January, 
when he and the Rev. Mr. Keith, who was here for a time, 
assisted the Rev. Mr. Howe in keeping open St. Paul's 
Church (as the Rector of it, the Rev. Dr. Hanckel, was also 
absent,) for the benefit of those of the three congregations 
who remained in town, and also for any who would come to 
hear the word preached. 

" On Easter Monday, 1864, the election of Vestry and 
Wardens for this church was held there, and, what was re- 
markable, those for St. Philip's, St. Paul's and Grace 
Churches were held at the same time and place, but only a 
few were present. The Vestry elected at that time 
held but one meeting to organize and then left the 
city. They have now all returned, with the exception of 
Jacob K. Sass, Esq., whose death we all lament, and whose 
memory will be ever held in esteem for his piety and be- 
nevolence, and usefulness as one of the church's enlight- 
ened members. 



'The Parisli Chiiirh of St. Micliacl. 27 

" The Rev. Mr. Howe officiated at St. Paul's, with others, 
until some time in February, 1865, when he left the city in 
consequence of his objecting to read the prayer for the 
President of the United States. The same thing occurred 
to the Rev. Mr. Marshall, D. D. The United States ofificers, 
by request, got permission to hold service at Grace Church, 
and the Rev. Mr. Green officiated, with others, for a time, 
until the Rector of the church returned. The public 
availed themselves of it, and the church was filled. 

" During the bombardment of the city the church was in 
imminent danger of being destroyed, as the steeple was 
made a lookout station for the Confederate General, and 
had a rope-ladder from the second balcony, which was in- 
tended to be used to descend, in case of danger, by the 
ofificers stationed there to observe the surrounding country. 
The wonder is that it was not hit often by the shells. But 
several struck the church, and if the organ had remained 
in its place, it would have been destroyed ; but, through 
the exertions and timely thoughtfulness of Mr. Alexander 
Robertson, and some other members, it was taken down, 
as well as the chandelier, and boxed up with many other 
articles of church furniture, and sent away for safety. 

"The church bells were removed to Columbia by the pub- 
lic authorities, with the consent of the Vestry, some time 
in June, 1862, after the battle of Secessionville, as also the 
communion plate, which was very costly, as described in Dr. 
Dalcho's History of the Church, to which several pieces 
were added by members of the congregation. They were 
all in the care of Mr. J. K. Sass, President of the Bank of 
Charleston (at Columbia), but were destroyed by the United 
States soldiers under General Sherman in the burning of 
Columbia. On several occasions after their being sent 
away, Mr. Alexander Robertson loaned the set of com- 
munion plate belonging to Grace Church, Sullivan's Island, 
which was returned to him. 

" The interior of the building was very much damaged, 
several shells having entered the roof, and one entered the 
east end of the chancel, which tore off and knocked down 



28 Appendix to Year Book. 

the whole interior of the same, with the gilded tablets con- 
taining the Ten Commandments, the Belief and the Lord's 
Prayer, exploding at the same time, and sinking into the 
pavement of the altar, destroying the pews and even burst- 
ing out the panels of the pulpit and scattering to destruc- 
tion the whole within its range. It was a schocking scene 
of desolation. And after the building was left in this sit- 
uation, it was plundered by thieves, by night and by day. 
Followers of the United States Army made free with the 
contents of it ; although informed against by the Sexton, 
they would intrude. On one occasion, a large number of 
visitors, from curiosity, entered and broke off from the 
pilasters the gilded and carved ornaments, and took from 
the front of the pulpit the initials I, H. S., which were in- 
laid in ivory. The pulpit was the original one put up at 
the building of the church in 1752, and preached in on the 
1st February, 1761. 

"The repairs after the cessation of the war necessary to 
to be made were undertaken by Mr. James R. Pringle, and 
required considerable time and labor, and by his judgment 
and good management the church was opened on the 26th 
November, 1865, making two years and seven days from 
the time it was closed. The expenses of the repairs,^ 
should be recorded in the minutes as they will add another 
example of his economy and useful services to the church. 
The Rector being absent, the Chairman of the Vestry in- 
vited the Rev. James Warley Miles to open the church, and 
he accordingly complied, as will be seen by the correspond- 
ence recorded." 

The party of visitors who robbed the church of the I. H. S. 
were followers of the United States army which took pos- 
sessions of the town in February, 1865, and some years 
after a Northern clergyman, who shall be nameless, restored 
the lost initials with the remarkable statement that he did 
so as there was no place for them in his church.- 

The first shell which struck the building entered near the 

'These repairs cost about $5,000. Circular of Vestry, January 10, 1887. 
-The present Rector. 



The Parish Church of St. Michael. 2g 

second window from Meeting street in the south gallery 
and exploded in the place left vacant by the removal of the 
organ. 1 Another buried itself in the first pew on the left as 
you enter the middle aisle and burst, but did little harm. 

The steeple was never struck. 

Until Mr. Keith's return to the city the church seems to 
have been kept open by the Rev. J as. W. Miles, as in 1866 
the Vestry offered him fifty dollars for his services, which 
he declined to receive on account of the general poverty.^ 
How dire that poverty was is so well illustrated by the fol- 
lowing letter from the Rector of St. Michael's that I give 
it in full as an illustration of the times : 

Anderson, (S. C.,) December 8, 1865. 

My Dear Sir: I have received your letter informing me 
of the inability of the Vestry to procure the means of my 
transportation to town, and shall therefore endeavor to 
make arrangements for going down alone. When I shall 
be able to accomplish it I do not know. 

Mr. Elliott^ came over to see me upon the receipt of 
your letter yesterday, and we both determined, that when 
we could, we should go down without our families. I can- 
not leave mine until I can provide something for their 
maintainance, though at a sacrifice of my means. As soon 
as I can make such arrangements, / will reserve enough to pay 
my zvay dozen. 

Respectfully and truly yours, 

P. TRAPIER KEITH. 

Hon. E. Frost, Chairman of Vestry.'^ 

Here we have the Ministers and Vestry of a large con- 
gregation, owning thousands of dollars worth of real and 
personal property, unable to raise the amount necessary for 
a journey of about two hundred miles. 

On the 27th January, 1866, the Rev. J. H. Elliott, resigned, ^ 
and after a delay to see if they could possibly retain him, 

^The Sexton. ^N. V. B., 150, ^Assistant Minister at St. Michael's. 
■*N. V. B.. i3g. *N. V. B., 142. 



30 Appendix to } 'car Book. 

the Vestry regretfully accepted his resignation. Soon after 
they tendered him $500, on account of the arrears of his 
salary, but he declined to accept it in a very cordial letter 
dated April 2, 1866J 

After serving the church as assistant and Rector for nearly 
twenty-eight years, the Rev. Mr. Keith died August 23, 
1868; his incumbency being by far the largest in the 
century and a quarter, which measures St. Michael's life. 

Some little time before Mr. Keith's death, the Rev. R. S. 
Trapier, was elected assistant, but did not enter upon the 
duties of his office till October 28, 1868, and on the 19th of 
January, 1869, was made Rector.^ 

It only remains to tell how the terrible cyclone of 
August 25th, 1885, blew down about three feet of the upper 
part of the spire with the ball and vane ; tore off half the 
slates from the roof — inflicting damage to the extent of 
$2,000^ — and we come to the sadest page in St. Michael's 
history. 

The Church had just been finished, the last touches being 
given to the work during the closing days of August, when 
the terrible earthquake of the 31st of August, 1886, shat- 
tered the building to such an extent that people expected it 
to fall at any moment, the News and Courier, of September 
ist, 1886, speaking of it as the " saddest wreck of all " in the 
city, and deploring the danger of the loss of the old Church, 
so dear to Charlestonians. The walls were shattered in 
many places, the steeple had sunk eight inches, and was 
slightly out of the perpendicular, a fissure several inches 
wide ran through the vestibule and up the middle aisle for 
ten or fifteen feet, the portico seemed about to fall into the 
street and the galleries into the body of the Church. The 
vestibule, under the steeple, presented a curious appear- 
ance, being highest in the center and sloping away to all 
four sides, much like the top of a huge pillow. Fortunately, 
the fears as to the safety of the Church proved groundless, 
and in the course of a few months it will be restored to its 

'N. V. B., 147. -^Mr. Trapier. 'Vestry Books. 



The Parish Church of St. Michael. 3 1 

original condition, but at an expense of $15,000 to$20,ooo.i 
Beneath the chancel rest the remains of Bishops Bowen and 
Dehon, and in the Church yard sleeps John Rutledge, some 
time Dictator of South Carolina, and Charleston Eraser, the 
artist. Under the present vestry room, built in 1884, Gen. 
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney is buried, and near the eastern 
Church yard wall, Robert Y. Hayne and James L. Pettigru 
" rest from their labors." Dr. Dalcho is commemorated by a 
tablet on the outside of the south wall of the church, and the 
headstone of Alexander Shirras, the founder of the Dispen- 
sary, is close against the western wall of the churchyard, 
while not far off are the graves of Major-General Mordecai 
Gist, of the Maryland Line, and James Parsons, once Vice- 
President of South Carolina. But we must not forget the tomb 
of Mrs. Martha Grimk6, who died September 22d, 1764, at 
whose funeral St. Michael's bells were tolled for the first 
time.2 

Like most church yards, this one has its queer epitaphs, 
and the famous one, 

" View this tomb as you pass by, 
For as you are so once was I, 
And as I am, so must you be ; 
Prepare yourself to follow me, " 

is on an obscure headstone, while a cross of wood tells us 
that 

" The beautiful she have faded from our track. 
We mourn her, but we cannot bring her back. " 

And over the grave of a sea Captain is the nautical stanza, 

" Although I here at anchor be 

With many of our fleet, 
We must set sail one day again 
Our Saviour Christ to meet." 

While another tells of the mother of nine children, who 
died, " aged seventeen years and twenty-seven days." 

In the southwest corner of the plot is a curious old affair, 

1 Vestry Books. 

-Memoirs of the late Charles Fraser, in possession of Dr. H. D. Fraser. 



32 Appendix to Year Book. 

much like the headboard of a bed. It is of bhick cypress, 
with cedar posts, and upon it is inscribed the date 1770; 
yet, in spite of its one hundred and seventeen years of ex- 
posure to all weathers, it is still sound, except that during 
the late war a shell cut off one leg, which has been renewed. 
Tradition tells us that this board was thought old at the 
end of the last century. 

The Act laying off St. Michael's Parisii and providing for 
the building of the Church, directs " That a commodious 
pew be set up therein, for the use of the Governor or Com- 
mander-in-Chief, and the Council for the time being ;"^ this 
was done, and up to forty years ago, the large square pew 
on the north side of the middle aisle, No. 43, was known as 
the Governor's Pew. Here Washington worshiped on the 
afternoon of Sunday, May 8, 1791 ; and one Sunday morn- 
ing, seventy-one years later, a handsome officer, of middle 
age, wearing a shabby gray uniform, was ushered by the 
sexton into the same pew, and after service people told 
each other that it was Gen. Robert E. Lee.- Thus, by a 
strange coincidence, these two world-famous Virginians sat 
in the same pew in St. Michael's. 

Henry Clay and Daniel Webster have likewise worshiped 
in the old Church,^ but we cannot learn that the third of the 
great triumvirate of Senators was ever there. 

The City GazcttL\o{^2iy 14, 1 791, says that on Saturday, 
May 7, 1791, "The President also visited St. Michael's 
Church, went up the steeple to the second balcony, where 
he had a view of the city, harbor, rivers, and the adjacent 
country, with which he was much pleased." It adds, that 
after the afternoon service at St. Michael's, Washington 
" dined, at a private dinner with the Hon. Major-General 
Moultrie." 

Since the earthquake the congregation of St. Michael's 
has worshipped in the Sunday-School Room of St. John's 
Lutheran Church — most kindly loaned for the purpose — the 
owners for part of the time giving up their afternoon service 

I7 Stat., 81. 2jMr, John Beasley, the Sexton, 
''Several Menibeis of Congregation, 



77/6' Parish Church of Si. MicJiacL 33 

to accommodate their guests ; and It gives great pleasure 
to one of St. Michael's congregation to put on record the 
gratitude universally felt. 

It only remains for us to call attention to the blunders 
in some verses by Aldine, called " How He Saved St. 
Michael's." The church saved having been old St. Philip's, 
burned in 1835, and the hero of the story receiving his 
freedom from the Vestry of that Church, not from the City 
Council, and taking the name of Will Philip Lining.^ 

Now our task is done, and if there are in it sins of omis- 
sion or of commission, the fault is one of head, and not of 
heart; for though more practiced pens might have done 
better, they could not have been moved by deeper love and 
veneration for Old St. Michael's. 



^King's Newspaper Press, 39. 



34 Appendix to Year Book. 

AITEKDIX TO ST. MICHAEL'S. 



RECrORS AND ASSISTANT MINISTERS OF ST. MICHAELS, 

1761-1S86. 

From To 

Fcb'y I, 1761. Rev. Robert Cooper, Rector July 2, 1776. 

June 2, 1765. Rev, Samuel Hart, Assistant June 2, 1770. 

Dec. iq, 1770. Rev. John Bullman, Assistant Aug. 18,1774. 

March 27, 1778. Rev. Charles Frederick Moreau, Rector May 12, 1780. 

July 29, 17S1. Rev. Edward Jenkins, Rector Dec. 14, 17S2. 

Dec. 14, 17S2. Rev. Henry Purcell,* Rector May 24, 1802. 

March 19, 1790. Rev. Thomas Gates, Rectorf Oct. 25, 1796. 

Oct, 30, 1796. Rev. Edward Jenkins, Rector Dec. 17, 1S04. 

Dec. 19, 1802. Rev. Nathaniel Bowen, Rector Aug. i, 1809. 

July 19, 1809. Rev. Theodore Dehon, Rector Aug. 6, 1817. 

Jan'y, 1805. Rev. William Percy, Assistant to St. rhiliji's 

and St. Michael's Dec. 3x, 1809. 

March I, 1818. Rev. Nathaniel Bowen, Rector Aug. 25, 1839. 

Feb'y 23, 1819. Rev. Frederick Dalcho. Assistant Nov. 24, 1836. 

Nov. 29, 1835. Rev. W. W. Spear, Assistant Oct. i, 1S39. 

Oct. I, 1839. Rev. W. W. Spear, Rector Oct. i, 1840. 

Oct. I, 1840. Rev. Paul Trapier, Rector Nov. 25, 1846. 

Oct. I, 1S40. Rev. Paul Trapier Keith, Assistant .May i, 1847. 

May I, 1847. Rev. Paul Trapier Keith, Rector Aug. 23, 1868. 

June 6, 1847. Rev. Thomas John Young, Assistant Oct. 11, 1852. 

Jan'y 30, 1853. Rev. James W^arley Miles, Assistant June 30, 1853. 

Nov, 25, 1853. Rev. James H. Elliott, Assistant Jan'y 27, 1866. 

Oct. 28, 1868. Rev. Richard S. Trapier, Assistant J^'i'y I9> 1S69. 

Jan'y I9, 1869. Rev, Richard .S. Trapier, Rector. 



WARDENS AND VESTRYMEN OF ST. MICHAEL'S, 
FROM 1759 TO 1886, BOTH D7\TES IN- 
CLUSIVE. 

1759. — Wardens, Robert Pringle, David Deas ; Vestry 
Benjamin Smith, Rob't Brevvton, Wm. Roper, Geo. Milli- 
gen, Chas, Pinckney, John McQueen, David Deas. Smith 
would not serve and Deas was Warden, so John Guerard 
and Geo. Austin were elected. 

1760. — Same Wardens ; Vestry, Geo. Austin, John Guer- 
ard, Jacob Motte, John Moultrie, Wm, Roper, John McCall, 
Chas Pinckney, 

1761, — Wardens, David Deas, John McCall; Vestry, 
Jacob Motte, Thos, Shubrick, Rob't Pringle, Chas. Pinck- 
ney, Wm. Burrows, Wm. Gibbes, Job Milner, 

*Not regularly elected till April 2, 1784, but served as stated. 
tFor some years St. Michael's had two Rectors. 



Tlic Paris// Church of St. Michael. 35 

1762. — Wardens. Wm. Gibbes, Richard Downs ; Vestry, 
Jacob Motte, Rob't Pringle, Fred Grimk6, Wm. Roper, 
Wm. Burrows, Eben'r Simmons, Jr., David Deas. 

1763. — Wardens, Wm. Gibbes, Thos. Farr, Jr.; Vestry, 
Jacob Motte, Fred Grimke, David Deas, John Hume, Jas. 
Parsons, Rawlins Lowndes, Wm. Burrows. 

1764. — Wardens, Wm. Bampfeild, John Dawson ; Vestry, 
Jas. Parsons, Wm. Gibbes, Eben'r Simmons, Rawlins 
Lowndes, P'red. Grimke, Jno. Ward, Jno. Savage. 

1765. — Wardens, Wm. 13ampfeild, Thos. Savage ; Vestry, 
Jas. Parsons, Wm. Gibbes, Chas. Pinckney, Josh. Ward, 
Walter Mansell, Ed. Lightwood, Jr., Thos. Stone, Jr. 

1766. — Wardens, Thos. Savage, Thos. L't'n Smith ; Ves- 
try, Chas. Pinckney, Wm. Bampfeild, Josh. Ward, Thos. 
Stone, Jr., Isaac Motte, Ed. Lightwood, Jr., Jas. Parsons, 

1767. — Wardens, Ed. Lightwood, Jr., Isaac Huger; 
Vestry, John Chapman, Jas. Parsons, Thos. L. Smith, Thos. 
Savage, Isaac Motte, Josh. Ward, Wm. Bampfeild. 

1768. — W^ardens, Ed. Lightwood, Jr., Josh. Ward; Ves- 
try, Jas. Parsons, Isaac Huger, Thos. Savage, Thos. Lough- 
ton Smith, Isaac Motte, John Chapman, Wm. Bampfeild. 

1769. — Wardens, Josh. Ward, Edmund Head; Vestry, 
Jas. Parsons, Rob't Pringle, John Chapman, Wm. Bamp- 
feild, Isaac Motte, Ed. Lightwood, Jr., Peter Leger. 

1770. — Wardens, Edmund Head, Rob't Stott ; Vestry, 
Jas. Parsons, Rob't Pringle, Wm. Bampfeild, Isaac Motte, 
Ed. Lightwood, Peter Leger, Josh. Ward. 

1771. — Wardens, Robt. Stott, Aaron Loocock ; Vestry, 
Jas. Parsons, Isaac Motte, Wm. Bampfeild, Ed. Lightwood, 
Josh. Ward, Peter Leger, Thos. L. Smith. 

1772. — ^Wardens, Geo. Abbott Hall, Andrew Lord ; Ves- 
try, James Parsons, Isaac Motte, Wm. Bampfeild, Ed. Light- 
wood, Josh. Ward, Peter Leger, Sir Edmund Head, Bart. 

1773. — Wardens, Sam. Legare, John Baker ; Vestry, James 
Parsons, Ed. Lightwood, Peter Leger, Sir Edmund Head, 
Thos. Heyward, Jr., Ed. Blake, Geo. Abbott Hall. 

1774-5. — Wardens, John McCall, Jr., John Brewton ; 
Vestry, same as last except Robt. Williams Powell substi- 
tuted for E. Lightwood. 

1776. — Wardens, Jas. McCall, John Dart; Vestry, Jas. 
Parsons, Ed. Blake, Peter Leger, Geo. Abbott Hall, Josh 
Ward, Ed. Lightwood, Sam. Legar^. 

1777. — Wardens, John Dart, EHas Horry, Jr.; Vestry, 
Jas. Parsons, Geo. Abbott Hall, Sam. Legare, Ed. Light- 
wood, Ed. Blake, V/m. Gibbes, John McCall, Jr. 



35 Appendix to Year Book. 

1778. — Wardens, Hy. Crouch, John Owen; Vestry, Wm. 
Gibbes, Ed. Blake, Ed. Lightvvood, Geo. Abbott Hall, Elias 
Horry, Jr., John Dart, John McCall, Jr. 

1779. — Wardens, John Owen, Thos, Waring; Vestry, 
same as last, except Chas. Pinckney substituted for John 
McCall, Jr. 

1780. — No election on record. 

1781. — Wardens, John McCall, Jr., Ed. Legge, Jr.; 
Vestry, Robt. Williams, Ben. Dart, Chas. Atkins, John 
Wragg, Wm. Greenwood, George Cooke, John Glen. 

1782. — Wardens, no change; Vestry, Rob't Williams, 
John Glen, Gideon Dupont, Jr., John Deas, Richard Wayne, 
Archibald Brown, John Harleston. 

1783. — Wardens, Daniel Hall, Philip Prioleau ; Vestry, 
Ed. Blake, Ed. Lightwood, Josh Ward, Peter Bacot, Wm. 
Gibbes, Sam. Legare, Geo. Abbott Hall. 

1784. — Wardens, Jas. Simons, Thos. Roper; Vestry, Ed. 
Blake, Wm. Gibbes, Isaac Motte, Wm. Price, John Deas, 
Peirce Butler, Roger Smith. 

1785. — Wardens, Geo. Greenland, John Glen ; Vestry, 
Thos. Bee, Wm. Price, Ed. Rutledge, Roger Smith, Isaac 
Motte, Ed. Blake, Peirce Butler. 

1786. — Wardens, Jacob Deveaux, J. Beale ; Vestry, Isaac 
Moote, Roger Smith, Peirce Butler, Wm. Price, Ed. Blake, 
Noble Wimberly Jones, Aaron Loocock. 

1787. — Wardens, Erasmus Audley, Rich'd Cole; Vestry, 
Ed. Blake, Aaron Loocock, Roger Smith, Wm. Price, Jacob 
Read, Isaac Motte, Peirce Butler. 

1788. — Wardens, Robt. Dewar, Geo. Bampfield ; Vestry, 
Ed. Blake, Aaron Loocock, Roger Smith, Jacob Read, 
Isaac Motte, John Dawson (only six). 

1789. — Wardens, Jos. Dill, Jr., Wm. Clarkson ; Vestry, 
same as last year, with the addition of John Julius Pringle. 

1790. — No Wardens recorded ; Vestry, Ed. Blake, Aaron 
Loocok, John Dawson, Roger Smith, Geo. Greenland (only 
five). 

1 791. —Wardens, Thos. Jervey, Thos. Gordon ; Vestry, 
same as last, with the addition of Thos. Waring, Sr. 

1792. — Wardens, Thos. Gordon, Sam. Baker ; Vestry, Ed. 
Blake, Aaron Loocock, Roger Smith, Geo. Greenland, Ar- 
noldus Vanderhorst, Thos. Horry, Thos. Waring, Sr. 

1793. — Wardens, no change ; Vestry, John Huger, A. Van- 
derhorst, Thos. Waring, Sr., Thos. Horry, G. Greenland, 
Roger Smith (only six). 

1794. — Wardens, no change; Vestry, same as last, with 
the addition of Ed. Blake. 



The Parish Churcli of St. MicJiacI. 37 

1795. — Wardens, Sam. Baker, Jos. Dill, Jr. ; Vestry, Geo. 
Greenland, Roger Smith, Thos. Waring, Sr., Daniel Hall, 
John Huger, Ed. Blake, Jas. Shoolbred, John Blake, in place 
of Ed. Blake, who died during the year. 

1796. — -Wardens, Sam. Baker, Thos. Bampfield ; Vestry, 
Josh. Ward, Roger Smith, Geo. Greenland, John Blake, 
Thos. Waring, Sr., John Huger, Daniel Hall. 

1797. — Wardens, David Alexander, Wm. Miller; Vestr}% 
same as last, omitting John Blake (only six.) 

1798-9. — Wardens, Wm. Miller, Geo. Reid ; Vestry. Josh. 
Ward, A. Vanderhorst, Daniel Hall, Roger Smith, Robert 
Hazelhurst, Francis Bonneau, John Huger. 

1800. — Wardens, no change ; Vestry, A. Vanderhorst, 
John Huger, Robert Hazelhurst, Francis Bonneau, D. Alex- 
ander, Micah Jenkins, John Dawson, Jr. 

1801. — Wardens, Geo. Reid, Chas. Kershaw^ ; Vestry, no 
change. 

1802-3.— Wardens, no change ; Vestry, no change, except 
J. J. Pringle, for Francis Bonneau. 

1804. — Wardens, John Potter, Jas. M. Ward; Vestry, 
J. J. Pringle, Thos. Parker, Micah Jenkins, David Alexan- 
der, Geo. Reid, John Dawson. Jr., Rob't Hazelhurst. 

1805. — Wardens, no change; Vestry, R. Hazelhurst, D. 
Alexander, Thos. Parker, John Dawson, Jr., G. Reid, Thos. 
Waring, Sr., Wm. Hasell Gibbes. 

1806. — Wardens, Nathaniel Ingraham, John Robertson ; 
Vestry, no change, except Chas. Kershaw for W. H. 
Gibbes. 

1807-8. — ^ Wardens, no change ; Vestry, John Dawson, 
Jr., Rob't Hazelhurst, D. Alexander, Geo. Reid, Chas. Ker- 
shaw, Theo. Gaillard, Jr., J. J. Pringle. 

1809. — Wardens, no change; Vestry, R. Hazelhurst, 
Micah Jenkins, John Dawson, Jr., Theo. Gaillard, D. Alex- 
ander, John Potter, J. J. Pringle. 

1810-11. — Wardens, no change ; Vestry, no change, ex- 
cept Jacob Reid in place of J. J. Pringle. 

1812-13. — Wardens, no change ; Vestry, no change, ex- 
cept Rob't J. Turnbull in place of Theo. Gaillard. 

1814. — Wardens, no change ; Vestry, John Dawson, D. 
Alexander, Jacob Reid, Rob't Hazelhurst, Thos. Waring, 
Sr., Chas. Kershaw, John Potter, 

1815-16. — Wardens, John Robertson, Jas. Jervey ; Ves- 
try, no change. 

1817. — Wardens, no change; Vestry, no change, except 
Elias Horry in place of Jacob Reid. 



38 Appendix to Year Book. 

t8i8. — Wardens, no change ; Vestry, Chas. Kershaw, D. 
Alexander, R. Hazelhurst, John Potter, Elias Horry, John 
Dawson, Rob't J. Turnbull. 

1 8 19-20-2 1-22. — Wardens, John Robertson, John Bay; 
Vestry, Chas. Kershaw, D. Alexander, Rob't Hazelhurst, 
Rob't J. Turnbull, Dr. Wm. Reid, John S. Cogdell, 
Micah Jenkins. 

1823. — Wardens, no change ; Vestry, D. Alexander, Wm. 
Drayton, Sam'l Prioleau, Dr. Wm. Reid, Micah Jenkins, 
Wm. Hasell Gibbes, Dr. Ed. Erailsford. 

1824-25-26. — Wardens, no change ; Vestry, no change, 
except Daniel Ravenel in place of Micah Jenkins. 

1827. — Wardens, Dr. Horatio S. Waring, John Robert- 
son ; Vestry, D. Alexander, Dan'l Ravenel, Sam'l Prio- 
leau, Jas. Jervey, Jas. R. Pringle, Dr. Wm. Reid, Dr. Ed. 
Brailsford. 

1828. — Wardens, Dr. H. S. Waring, Wm. Timmons; Ves- 
tr}^ no change, except John Robertson in place of Dan'l 
Ravenel. 

1829-30-31. — Wardens no change ; Vestry, D. Alex- 
ander, Sam'l Prioleau, John Robertson, Jas. R. Pringle, Jas. 
Jervey, Jas, L. Petigru, Dr. Wm. Read. 

1832. — Wardens, no change ; Vestry, no change, except 
Jas. H. Ladson in place of John Robertson. 

1833 to 1838. — Wardens, no change; Vestry, no change, 
except Dr. Isaac M. Campbell in place of Sam'l Prioleau. 

1839.— Wardens, Dr. H. S. Waring, A. E. Miller; Ves- 
try, no change. 

1840. — Wardens, no change ; Vestry, Dr. Wm. Read, Jas. 
R. Pringle, Jas. Jervey, Jas. L. Petigru, Dr. I. M. Camp- 
bell, John S. Cogdell, Jas. H. Ladson. 

1841-42. — Wardens, A. E. Miller, Wm.. Jervey; Vestry, 
Dr. Wm. Read, Jas. L. Petigru, Dr. I. M. Campbell, J. S. 
Cogdell, Dr. H. S. Waring, Otis Mills, Jas. Jervey. 

1843-44-45. — Wardens, no change; Vestry, J. L. Pet- 
igru, Wm. J. Grayson, Sr., Dr. I, M. Campbell, Dr. Wm. 
Read, Dr. H. S. Waring, Otis Mills, Jas. M. Wilson. 

1846. — Wardens, A. E. Miller, only one on record; Ves- 
try, no change, except Ed. Blake in place of Dr. William 
Read. 

1847-48-49. — Wardens, A. E. Miller, James R. Pringle; 
Vestry, no change. 

1850-51-52. — Wardens, no change; Vestry, Dr. I. M. 
Campbell J. L. Pettigru, W. J. Grayson, James M. Wilson, 
W. A. Hayne, Dr. H. S. Waring, H. W. Conner. 



TJiL Parish Chinrli of St. MicJiacl. 39 

1853. — Wardens, no change ; Vestiy, same, except J. K. 
Sass in place of H. W. Conner. 

1854. — Wardens, A. E. Milier, Charles D. Carr ; Vestry, 
Dr. I. M. Campbell, J. L. Pettigru, Wm. J. Grayson, Wm. 

B. Pringle, Dr. James P. Jervey, J. R. Pringle, Ed. Frost. 
1855-56-57-58-59.— Wardens, A. E. Miller, Alex. Rob- 
ertson ; Vestry, no change. 

1860-61-62. — Wardens, A. E. Miller, Wm. C. Courtney; 
Vestry, no change, except Alex. Robertson in place Wm. 
J. Grayson. 

1863. — Wardens, no change; Vestry, Ed. Frost, William 
Bull Pringle, Dr. James P. lervey, Alex. Robertson, Jas. 
R. Pringle Dr. I. M. Campbe'll, W. J. Grayson. 

i864.^Wardens, no change; Vestry, Ed. Frost, Wm. B. 
Pringle, Dr. Jas. P. Jervey, Alex. Robertson, Jas. R. Pringle, 
J. K. Sass, Thos. Frost. 

1865. — No election on record. 

1866.— Wardens, A. E. Miller, W. C. Courtney; Vestry, 
Ed. Frost, Jas. R. Pringle, Alex. Robertson, Jas. M. Wil- 
son, Thos. Frost, Wm. B. Pringle, Dr. Jas. P. Jervey. 

1867-68. — Wardens, no change; Vestry, no change, ex- 
cept Martin L. Wilkins in place of Alex. Robertson. 

1869.— Wardens, no change; Vestry, no change, except 
Richard Caldwell in place of Ed. Frost. 

1870. — Wardens, no change; Vestry, same save Wm. 
Jervey, vice Richard Caldwell. 

1 87 1-2. — Wardens, no change ; Vestry, J. R. Pringle, Wm. 
Bull Pringle, J. M. Wilson, T. Frost, M. L. Wilkins, Hy. E. 
Young, Cleland K. Huger. 

1873. — No change, except in Vestry, E. P. Jervey, 'vice 
J. M. Wilson. 

1874. — Wardens, W. C. Courtney, Thos. Frost; Vestry, 

C. K. Huger, H. E. Young, M. L. Wilkins, E. P. Jervey, 
John H. Scriven, G. D. Bryan, Alex. W. Marshall. 

1875. — No change, except in Vestry, Dr. F. L. Parker. 
vice J. H. Scriven. 

1876. — No change, except Dr. T. L. Ogier, vice M. L. 
Wilkins. 

1877-80. — ^No change. 

1881. — Wardens, W. C. Courtney, Thos. P'rost ; Vestry, 
H. E. Young, C. K. Huger, E. P. Jervey, G. D. Bryan, A. 
W. Marshall, Dr. T. L. Ogier, Arnoldus Vanderhorst. 

1882-5. — Wardens, Thos. Frost, C. K. Huger; Vestry, 
H. E. Young. E. P. Jervey, G. D. Bryan, A. W. Marshall, 
Dr. T. L. Ogier, Arthur Lynah, Julius A. Blake. 



40 



Appiiidix to Year Book. 



1886.— Wardens, C. K. Huger, A. W. Marshall; Vestry, 
PI. E. Young, E. P. Jcrvey, G. D. Bryan, Dr. T. L. Ogier, 
J. A. Blake, Arthur Lynah, J. B. Chisolm. 



THE DELIVERY OF PEWS IN 

CHURCH. 



ST. MICHAEL'S 



1st December, I/60, Delivered by Isaac Mazyck. 



No. 



3 To Ralph Izard. No. 


65ToSam'l Prioleau. 


4 ' 


' Benj. Smith. 


67 " 


Ann Air. 


14 ' 


' Thomas Elfe. 


75 " 


Benjamin Ma- 


17 ' 


" Miles Brewton. 




zyck. 


26 ' 


' Joseph Nichol- " 


76 " 


Frederick 




SON. 




Grimke. 


27 ' 


' Richard 


80 " 


Thomas Rose. 




DOWNES. 


89 " 


Samuel Cardy. 


3« ' 


' Job Milner. 


91 •• 


Thomas Basnett, 


48 ' 


' John McCall. 


92 " 


Thos. Stone, Jr, 


52 ' 


' Sarah Baker. 


97 " 


John Favors. 


57 ' 


' Thomas Hutch- 
inson. 




~ 



Delivered by Benj. Smith. 

No. 21 To Isaac Mazyck. 

2d December, Delivered by Isaac Mazyck. 

No. 5 To Edward Fen- No. 29 To Robert Pringle. 
wicKE (by Wm. " 32 " Luke Stonten- 

GlBBS.) BURGH. 

19 " William Bull. " 72 " John Hume. 

Delivered by Benjamin Smith. 

No. 6T0 James Laurens. No. 49T0 Wm. Middleton. 



8 ' 


' Wm. Burrows. 




(by H. Middle- 


9 ' 


' Henry Peron- 




ton.) 




NEAU. 


54 ' 


' Wm. Henderson, 


16 • 


' James Parsons. 


' 60 ' 


' Henry Middle- 


20 ' 


' Othniel Beale. 




ton. 


22 ' 


' Ann Waller. 


61 > 


' Thc'Mas Middle- 


25 " Wm. Bampfield. 




ton. 


36 • 


' John Savage. 


88 ' 


' John Giles. 




" 


• 18 ' 


' Jacob Motte. 



The PdrisJi CJuircJi of St. Michael. 



41 



Delivered by Robert Pringlc. 



No. 109 


To John Stevenson. 






8th December, Delivered 


by Isaac Mazyck. 


No. 23 


To Thomas Farr, No. 


69 To Robert John- 




Jr. 


son. 


" 35' 


To William Bran- " 


79 " John Gibbes, 




FORD. 


Jr., by William 


" 39 


" Sarah Johnston 


Gibbes. 




(by J. McCall.) " 


84 " Thomas Lam- 


" 41 


" Peter Mani- 


boll (by Thos. 




gault. 


Lamboll, Jr.) 


" 47 


" Eliza Aiken, (by " 


12 '• Hector B. de 




B. Smith). 


Beaufain. 


" 58 


" William Gibbes. " 


100. " Thomas LiNNiNG 




By Benjamin 


Smith. 


No. 13 


To William StoneNo. 


87 To William Hop- 




(to Wm. Hop- 


ton. 




ton). 


90 " CORDES & POR- 


" 55 


" Moreau Sarra- 


CHER (to p. 




ZIN (to JONA'N 


DOUXSAINT). 




Sarrazin). 






gtJi December, by G 


. Ma7iigault. 


No. 33 


To Elinor AustinNo. 


70 To Susanna Crock- 




(to Geo. Aus- 


ATT. 




tin.) 


71 " Ebenezer Sim- 


" 44 


" George Austin. 


mons, Jr. 


" 62 


' Tiios. Shubrick. " 


-]-] " Humphrey Som- 


" 64 


' Daniel Ravenel, 


mers. 




Jr., and Alex. " 


81 " William Scott. 




Mazyck. 


82 " Edward Light- 


" 66. 


' Sarah Hollibush 


wood. 


" 68. 


" Thomas Tucker 






i^th December, by G. Manigault. 


No. 7 


To Henry Laurens. No. 


94 To William Hall 


" 24 


" Alex. Garden. 


98 " Robert Hardy. 


" 37 


" William Moul- " 


107 " Daniel Blake (to 




TRIE. 


Wm. Blake). 


" 45 


" William Blake. " 


no " Mary Esther 


" 74 


" John Paul 


Hodgson (to 




Grimke. 


Wm. Hall). 


" 85 


" Stephen Mazyck 
(to Peter Mazyck). 





42 



Appendix to Year Book. 



1 6th December, by Isaac Mazyck. 



No. 40T0 Peter Leger. No. 
" 42 " John Snelling. 
" 43 " George M'QuEEN " 
(to Alex. Fyffe). " 
" 46 " John McQueen 
(to Alex. Fyffe). 
" 59 " Ann Mathewes. " 
" 73 " Eliza Pinckney 
(to Harriet 
Pinckney). 



78 To Daniel Horry 

(to John Hume.) 
86 " William "Parker. 
93 " Richard Park 
Stobo (to Thomas 
Stone). 
95 " Frederick Stro- 
BLE (to Hannah 
Stroble). 



2^th December, by G. Manigaiilt. 
No. 51 To Samuel Wainwright. 



No. 





jOtJi December, by G 


". Manigaiilt. 


15 


To Stephen Bull, No. 
(to 0. Beale.) 


102 


To 


Jeremiah The- 

us. 


30 


" George Inglis, " 


103 


" 


HoPKiN Price. 




(to D. Deas.) '' 


104 


u 


George Gard- 


31 


" David Deas. 






ner. 


53 


" Thomas Farr, " 


105 


" 


Peter Butler. 




(toTHOS. Evance.) " 


106 


" 


Leonard Bo- 


56 


" Bernard Beek- 






SELLE. 




man. 


108 


u 


Darby Pender 


96 


'' James Reid. 






GRASS. 


99 


" Jacob Boomer. " 


I II 


" 


Elizabeth 


lOI 


" Thomas Night- 
engale. 






Hunt. 



February 28, iy6i, Delivered by G. Manigault, Esq. 
No. 50. To Thomas Dray- No. 63. To Thomas Lynch. 

TON, (to WM. 

Drayton.) 

August §t/t, 1761, Delivered by Isaac Mazyck. 
No. 34 To John Drayton. No. 83 To Robert Wil- 
liams in behalf for 
the use of Marga- 
ret Hartly, now 
Margaret Wil- 
liams.* 



*Nos. I, 2, 10, II and 28 not taken on List. — G. S. H, 



Uic Parish ChurcJi of St. Michael. * 43 

INSCRIPTIONS FROM THE MURAL TABLETS. 

I755-I7&q— JAMES O'BRIEN PARSONS. Sacred to the memory of James 
O'Brien Parsons, eldest son of the Hon'ble James Parsons, Esq., and 
Susanna Parsons. He was born the ist of November, 1755, and 
died at Westminster School, 19th April, 1769, aged 13 years, 5 
months and 19 days. His remains rest in St. Martin in the Fields, 
London. 

1760-1778— GEORGE PARSONS. Here rest the remains of George Par- 
sons, second son of the Hon'ble James Parsons, Esq., and Susanna 
Parsons. He was born the 13th February, 1760, and died the 23d of 
October, 177S, asjed 18 years, 8 months and 10 days. Thus early did 
it please the Almightly to take to Himself these much lamented 
youths. Leaving their Country to mourn the loss of that support, 
and their disconsolate parents that comfort, of which their ripening 
virtues gave the most flattering prospect. 

1745-1779 — LOUIS DeSAUSSURE. Sacred to the memory of Louis 
DeSaussure. He was a native of Beaufort District, and an Officer 
in the 3d Regiment of the South Carolina line of troops, raised for 
Continental .Service during the War of the Revolution. Whilst lead- 
ing on his Soldiers to the assault, made by General Lincoln on the 
British Lines at Savannah, on the 9th day of October, 1779, he re- 
ceived a wound from a musket shot, of which he died in a few days, 
aged 34 years. His body was brought home to his afflicted friends 
and interred in the Cemetery of this Church. 

1777-1817— RIGHT REV, THEODORE DEHON, D. D. Sacred to the 
Memory of the Right Rev. Theodore Dehon, D. D., late Rector of 
this Church, and Bishop of the Diocese, who ceased to be mortal on 
the 6th day of August, 1817, in the 41st year of his life, and the 20th 
of his ministry. Genius, learning and eloquence added lustre to a 
character formed by Christian principles, and a constant study of the 
Christian's model. Meek : He was swift to hear, slow to speak, slow 
to wrath. Humble : He esteemed others better than himself. Mer- 
ciful : He sought out the poor and the afflicted. Devoted to God : 
He counted his life not dear to himself, so that he might finish his 
course with joy, and the ministry, which he had received of the Lord 
Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the Grace of God. Zeal, fortified by Dis- 
cretion, and Firmness Ijy Moderation, Sanctity united with Urbanity, 
and Goodness with Cheerfulness, rendered him the delight of his 
friends, the admiration of his country, the glory and hope of the 
Church. His death was considered a public calamity. The pious 
lamented him as a primitive Bishop, the clergy as a father, and youth 
and age lingered at his grave. He was buried under the chancel, by 
direction of the Vestry, who also caused this monument to be erected 



44 .l/>/>t-//(//.v ti> ]'i(rr Hook. 

in testimony of their affection, and liis merit, (^^uis desidcrio sit pudor, 
aut modus, tarn ehaii capitis ! 

Heneath the Altar of this Church rest tlie remains of Rishop Dehdn. 
A marble stone covers liis j^rave, on which is the following; inscriji- 
tion : "Here rest the remains of Thkodork Dehon. IX D., late 
Rector of this Churcir, and Bishop of the Diocese." 

i7>™-iS2l — Ukv. KOWAUn JKNKINS, D. D. (,^ui Christo vivit perire 
nescit. In memory of Edward Jenkins, I). P., who died in April, 
1S21, in Glamorganshire, in Wales, the place of his nativity, lie 
was educated at Jesus ColK-ge, Oxford, and having removed to this 
country was successively Rector of the Churches of St. Bartholomew, 
St. Michael and St. Philip. Whilst he was Rector of St. Michael's 
his orthodo.x principles as a Minister of the Cospel, his abilities as a 
preacher, his assiduity as a parochial priest, his candour, probity and 
benevolence, his exemplary, pious and moral conduct, graced with the 
acquirements of the scholar and polished manners of the gentleman, 
designated him as well qualified for the dignified station of Bishop of 
South Carolina, to which he was elected December 20, 1804, and which 
he declined, apprehensive that his advanced age might impede the 
punctual discharge of his duties. Bereaved by death of the issue he 
had by his beloved wife — a native of this State — he showed a parental 
kindness to the children and grandchildren whom she had by a 
former husband. They, to record his worth and their gratitude, here 
place this inadequate memorial. " The righteous shall be hadjin ever- 
lasting remembrance." — Psalm 112, v. 6. 

1778-1847. — JOHN S. COGDELL. To the memory of John S. Coc.dell, a 
native of South Carolina, who was born on the 19th September, 177S, 
and died on the 25th February, 1847. In all his relations he was a 
man to be cherished and loved ; he united the kindest affections and 
the deepest sensibility, the purest virtue and the strictest honor. He 
sustained with the greatest urbanity and with spotless integrity many 
public offices of trust and distinction ; and he illustrated and graced 
them by an enlightened mind ; a cultivated taste and a devotion to 
the fine arts, at once his ornament and his reward. He crowned all 
his high and endearing qualities by the humility and faith of the 
Christian and fell asleep in the assurance of awaking to everlasting 
life thro' the merits of the Redeemer. 

17S5-1S5S.— Mrs. MARI.\. COGDELL. Born May 19th, 17S5. Died De- 
cember Sth, 185S, 

1746-1825.— CHARLES COTESWORTH PINCKNEY.— To the memory 
of Gener.-vl Charles CoTESwoKiH PiNCKNEY, one of the founders, 
of the American Republic. In war, he was the companion in arms 
and the friend of Washington. In peace, he enjoyed his unchanging 
confidence and maintained, with enlightened zeal, the principles of his 



The Parisli Church of St. Michael. 45 

administration and of the Constitution. As a statesman, he be- 
queathed to his country the sentiment, " millions for defense, not a 
cent for tribute." As a lawyer, his learninj^was various and profound, 
his principles pure, his practice liberal. With all the accomplishments 
of the gentleman, he combined the virtues of the patriot and the piety 
of the Christian. His name is recorded in the history of his country, 
inscribed on the charter of her liberties, and cherished in the affec- 
tions of her citizens. Obeit, XVI August, MDCCCXXV, ^tatis, 
LXXIX. 

i303 1851.— REV. THOMAS JOHN YOUNG.— Tothe memory of the Rev. 
Thomas John Voung, Assistant Minister of St. Michael's Church, 
who was born October 22nd, 1803, and died October nth, 1852. In 
his character were blended the affections which make the happiness 
of domestic life, with the qualities that adorn the pastoral office, a 
vigorous mind, carefully cultivated, a disposition earnest and firm, yet 
full of tenderness, a pure and holy life ; he grasped the entire circle 
of his duties, and disease, that wasted his strength for years, could not 
weaken his devotion to them ; the goodness of God permitted him to 
crown the instruction of his life by the lesson of his death ; strong in 
faith, hope and love for his friends and people, he forgot nothing that 
concerned their welfare, and ceased his care for Christ's Church on 
earth only when called to its joys in Heaven, " where they that \>c 
wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn 
many to righteousness, as the stars forever and ever." Dan'l, 12. 3. 
Erected to a beloved Pastor by the Vestry and congregation of St. 
Michael's Church. 

1770-1836.— REV. FREDERICK DALCHO.M. D.— This stone is erected by 
the Vestry of St. Michael's Church in memory of the Rev. Frederick 
Dalcho, M.D., who, having served this Church as an Assistant Minis- 
ter for seventeen years, died on the 24th day of November, A. D. 1836, 
in the 67th year of his age ; and was buried near this place.* Fidelity, 
industry and prudence were the chracteristics of his ministry. He 
loved the Church, delighted to the last in its service, and found in 
death the solace and support of the faith which, with an exemplary 
constancy, he had preached. Steadfast and uniform in his own pecu- 
liar convictions and actions as a member and minister of the Protest- 
ant Episcopal Church, he lived and died " in perfect charity with all 
men." 

i3oi-i868— REV. PAUL TRAPIER KEITH. This tablet is erected by the 
Vestry in affectionate remembrance of the Rev. Paul Trapier 
Keith, who served God in the Sacred Ministry of His Church forty- 
three years — first as Rector ot the Parish of Prince George, Win- 

* This stone originally stood on outer south wall. 



46 Appendix to Year Jhwk. 

yah, next as Assissant Minister and Rector of St. Michael's, Charles- 
ton. A man " in whom was no guile," of the sweetest natural dispo- 
sition, of rare modesty and firm for the truth. Born in Georgetown, 
of this State, October 26th, 1801 ; made Deacon January 6th, 1825 ; 
ordained Priest April 20th, 1827 ; died in Charleston, August 23d, 
1868. " I appoint unto you a Kingdom as my Fatlier hath appointed 
unto me." 

JULY 27TH, 1799— TO OUR MOTHER, SABINA E. HUGER. 

1757-1S43— JOHN JULIUS PRINGLE and 

1768-1831 — SUSANNA, HIS WIFE. — In memory of John Julius Pringle 
and of Susanna, his wife, their children have raised this monument, 
as a memorial of a father, whose life was valuable as an example of 
great purityof character, and great talents usefully exerted ; and as a 
tribute to a mother who was conspicuous for her virtues. Their re- 
mains lie in the cemetery of this Church, at the base of one of the 
pilasters, where their epitaphs are inscribed. 

1770-1S46 — HENRY DEAS. Sacred to the memory of the Hon. Henry Deas, 
who was born 20th June, 1770, and died 2d December, 1846. With 
earnest patriotism and enlightened devotion to constitutional liberty, 
he zealously engaged in eventful political measures, and by his wise 
and prudent counsel, by his graceful, earnest and persuasive elo- 
quence, and by the moral force of a pure and elevated charcter, ex- 
erted a prominent influence in public affairs. In December, 1835, he 
retired from the Senate of this State, over which he had presided 
eight sessions with memorable courtesy, dignity and ability. 

To the social attractions of elegance, refinement, wit and engaging 
benevolence, he added fidelity in the discharge of every relative duty. 
A husband, tender, assiduous, devoted, the affectionate friend and 
counsellor of his children, a humane and gentle master, he excelled 
in the domestic virtues. In life and in death, with a reasonable re- 
ligious and holy hope, he trusted in God. 

1754 1845 — WILLIAM READ, M. D. — Sacred to the memory of Doctor 
William Re.'VD, a native of Christ Church Parish, South Carolina, 
who departed this life on 21st April, 1845, in the 92d year of his age. 
He first served his country as a volunteer in the war of the American 
Revolution, and afterwards as a Deputy Surgeon-General in the army, 
under the immediate eye of General Washington. He had the high 
satisfaction of attracting the personal regard and winning the appro- 
bation of the Father of his Country. Asa physician he was skillful 
and benevolent, as a citizen generous and public-spirited, and as a 
man he lived honored and respected by all. For several years he was a 
a member of the Vestry and a communicant of this Church, in the 
cemetery of which his remains are buried, and at the time of his de- 
cease he was President of the State Society of the Cincinnati. In 



TJic Parish Clutrch of St. Michael. 47 

temper he was frank, manly and sincere, in deportment dignified and 
courteous, and in all the domestic relations of life exemplary and 
irreproachable. 

This monument is consecrated by filial reverence to the memory of 
an honored parent, 

1779-1839.— RIGHT REV. NATHANIEL BOWEN, D. D.— The Right 
Reverent Nathaniel Bowen, D. D., born in Boston 29th June, 
1779, consecrated Bishop 8th October, 1818, died 25th August, 1839. 
Revered in his Diocese for gravity and wisdom ; he was endeared to 
his congregation by benevolence and piety. This Church, which was 
edified by his pastoral care, and saw him adorn the episcopal office 
with dignity ; now dedicates this marble to the memory of his virtues. 
" Whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die." John 
XI. XXVI. 

On a slab in the floor of the Chancel is inscribed : Here rest the 
remains of the Right Reverend Nathaniel Bowen, D. D., late 
Rector of this Church and Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina. 
He was born in Boston 29th June, 1779, and departed this life 25th 
August, 1839, in the 6ist year of his age. 

In the Vestibule. 

MARY BLACKLOCK — In memory of a sincere Christian and exemplary 
parent, Mary, the beloved and devoted wife of John Freer Blacklock, 
Esquire. She died loth June, 1850. 

1819-1880— THEODORE DEIION WAGNER. In memory of Theodore 
Dehon Wagner, merchant of Charleston, S. C, born 24th March, 
1819, died 23d February, 1880. " He delivered the poor when they 
cried and the fatherless who had none to help them. The blessing 
of Him that was ready to perish came upon him ; and he caused the 
heart of the widow to sing for joy." 



\y 



1^* 



■L-] 



